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Cedar Rapids State Bank	Cornerstone Bank
PO Box 158	PO Box D
Cedar Rapids, NE 68627	St. Edward, NE 68660

Worship

You are welcome to come to worship.
7pm Saturday at St. John
8:30am Sunday at St. John
10:30am Sunday at Faith

As always, you are welcome to request the Lord's Supper anytime at Faith or St. John or at home.

If you have questions please text, call or email.

Sunday, January 14, 2024
The Baptism of our Lord

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Isaiah 42:1-7 (ESV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV) For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Jesus’ baptism is His Epiphany to Israel. Epiphany means to reveal or to make known something that was hidden. In His baptism, Jesus reveals Himself. He comes out of darkness and into the spot light for you. The Father proclaims His Son and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him. In Jesus’ baptism everything that God does, He does for you.

Before His baptism, Jesus was largely unknown. A handful of shepherds knelt before Him the day He was born. Simeon held Him at the temple 40 days later. Wise men from the east had given Him kingly gifts when He was very young. When He was 12 the temple teachers commented on His understanding. Almost no one else recognized anything out of the ordinary with Jesus. He grew into manhood like any other boy growing up in Nazareth.

Then Jesus came out of the darkness of obscurity to be revealed as the Christ. Jesus came to the Jordan river to be baptized by John. But people came to the Jordan confessing their sins, and John’s baptism was an absolution. It washed their sin into the Jordan as they trusted in the promised Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Jesus had no sin to confess, no need for washing or cleansing or repentance.

Recognizing this, John’s reaction is typically human. He tried to prevent Jesus doing what He came to do, thinking He knew better. “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” The sinner should be baptized by the sinless One, not the other way around. John thought there would be no benefit to Jesus by baptizing Him. John needed an Epiphany.

Jesus’ words reveal why He came to be baptized. “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Christ Jesus is your righteousness. Jesus lowered himself to be baptized as a sinner. The sinless One stood with sinners in the water of the Jordan.

Imagine taking a bath after a person who had been caked with filth and hadn’t even brushed off the worst bits before they got into the bath. And in the bath before was a person sick with a contagious disease. Now it’s your turn. That doesn’t sound very appealing, does it?

The water of the Jordan teemed with sin the day Jesus was baptized. He stood in the water with the prostitute and the tax collector, with the Gentile and the outcast. He was steeped in our sin. He became the adulterer, the drunkard, the liar, the thief, the blasphemer, the murderer. He was made sin for us who knew no sin, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus’ baptism reveals this great exchange. The sinless Son of God entered the cesspool of our sin as a divine sponge. He absorbed the pollution of our sin. In our baptism, the Word of God unites the water in the Jordan and the water in the baptismal font. In our baptism, our sins were washed into the water and onto Jesus. In the water, Jesus took up our sin, our guilt, our punishment, our death. We receive from Him His righteousness, His forgiveness, His glory, His life. He gets treated as a sinner, so that we would be declared saints. He was baptized into our sin; we are baptized into His righteousness.

In Jesus’ baptism, heaven is opened to us, and God descends to meet us. There the Father speaks in testimony. There the Son begins bearing our sin. There the Spirit, who once hovered over the waters of creation, now descends on the water where the Son is. Baptism is a new creation. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.”

The Voice from heaven reveals His Son to the world, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The Father publicly installs His Son as the promised Messiah, the Christ. Here He takes up His task to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Jesus’ baptism puts Him on the road to the cross. The sin He takes up in His baptism, He puts to death on the cross.

The Voice from heaven and the descending Dove tell us to look nowhere else for a gracious God but where this man Jesus is. He is the One the Spirit reveals. He is the One who makes the Father known to us and makes us known to the Father. Jesus is revealed as our gentle God who will not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. He deals quietly and gently with us in our brokenness. He brings healing to our wounds. He opens eyes that are blind to God’s goodness. He frees those who are captive to sin and death. He releases those who sit in a dungeon of darkness and brings them into the warmth of His light.

Jesus’ baptism teaches us to treasure our own baptism, the baptism that Jesus commanded after His death and resurrection when He said to the apostles: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” To be baptized into Christ Jesus is to have the heavens opened to you. In your baptism, the Father’s voice declares you to be His beloved child and the Spirit descends upon you. When you were baptized, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, stands in the water with you as your Brother and your Savior.

Daily we can remember our baptism. Luther encourages us to make the sign of the cross morning and evening with the baptismal words: “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Daily, when our sins oppress us and our conscience weighs us down with guilt, we can say. “I am baptized! And if I am baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in body and soul.”

Today you stay in the warmth of your homes and remember the warmth of God’s love revealed as Jesus begins to bear your sins in His baptism. Here is Jesus’ Epiphany – here He is revealed as He begins His work for you. The dove descends and the voice of the Father speaks, not for Jesus’ benefit, but for yours. In your baptism, the Father’s words are now directed to you, for you are baptized into Christ and you are the Father’s beloved child and the Holy Spirit has descended upon you. Amen.

The Peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.

Let us confess the Apostles Creed ...
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Let us pray:
Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Heavenly Father, You revealed Your Son in the wondrous Epiphany in the Jordan. So also You have revealed Your name and blessing to us in Holy Baptism, declaring us Your beloved heirs. Grant that we may daily die to sin and rise to newness of life, living with joy as Your baptized children. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, we give You thanks for the gift of family. Bless all parents, especially mothers, that they would joyfully acknowledge Your gifts of spouse, children and home. Be near to the elderly, the widowed and the orphaned. Show forth Your grace to them, that they would not feel alone. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord of the nations, Your eye is on all who fear You. Grant humility and integrity to our rulers. Kindle love of neighbor among our citizens. Bring forth justice according to Your will and Word. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, You send rain and snow to fall and water the earth and the sun shines at Your bidding. Protect those who travel. Grant strength and safety to those who labor on behalf of others in the bitter cold, especially those who work to open roads for safe travel. Give wisdom to those who care for livestock and all whose vocations require them to be outside. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give comfort and relief to those who are sick, depressed, tired, confused or in any need. Watch over all expectant mothers and their children, that they may have a safe delivery and be brought also to the life-giving waters of Holy Baptism. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Eternal God, You have made us Your own people by Baptism and granted us Your Holy Spirit to confess Christ in word and deed. We remember with thanksgiving those who went before us, who passed the faith on to us and who now rest in Christ from all their labors. Since we have died with Christ through Baptism, grant that we would be raised with Him also. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O merciful Lord, grant us confidence in the promises of Holy Baptism and trust that You will answer our prayers. When the Last Day comes, bring us into the joy of Your everlasting light and life through the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven:
Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

For our musicians...
June-August 2020 Faith-St. Ed
June-August 2020 St. John-Cedar

March-May 2020 Faith-St. Ed
March-May 2020 St. John-Cedar

Below you'll find our current and past newsletters

August 2018 Newsletter
September 2018 Newsletter